Caltius Equity Partners Invests in Kiss My Face

Los Angeles-based Caltius Equity Partners has invested an undisclosed amount of growth capital into personal care company Kiss My Face. The company, formed in 1981 in New York’s Hudson River Valley, sells its natural soaps, lotions, lip balms and other products online and through retailers across the US. No financial terms of the deal were released.
PRESS RELEASE
Caltius Equity Partners, in partnership with Lisa Yarnell and Ron Gordon, has made a growth capital investment in Kiss My Face. The leading natural personal care products brand is sold through premier natural, mass, grocery, online and specialty retailers including Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, Target, Meijers, Wegmans, Fred Meyer, Stop n’ Shop and drugstore.com. Founded in 1981 by Bob MacLeod and Steve Byckiewicz on a 200-acre organic farm in New York’s bucolic Hudson River Valley, the company sells a variety of natural personal care products ranging from moisturizers and liquid soaps to shampoos, shave creams, toothpaste, lip balms and suntan products for adults and kids.

“Lisa and Ron are both experienced consumer products executives with accomplished track records”

The Kiss My Face transaction was referred to Caltius Equity Partners by Lisa Yarnell who will serve as the CEO and Ron Gordon who will serve as the non-executive Chairman of the Board. Ron has also worked with the fund on its successful past investment in LaDove, Inc.

“Lisa and Ron are both experienced consumer products executives with accomplished track records,” said Michael Morgan, Managing Director of Caltius. “We believe that Lisa and Ron, together with Bob, Steve and the rest of the Kiss My Face team, are a winning combination that will enable the company to capitalize on the natural personal care product category’s projected growth.” Lisa Yarnell has a wealth of consumer products experience including previous senior roles at Jane & Company, Coty, Inc., Colgate-Palmolive and L’Oreal. Ron Gordon is the former CEO of Beiersdorf North America and past President and COO of Nice-Pak Products, Inc.

“Kiss My Face enjoys significant unaided brand awareness given its limited distribution and is well positioned to unlock tremendous potential for retailers who want to grow and develop natural product segments in their stores,” said Lisa Yarnell, CEO of Kiss My Face. “Bob and Steve are the best at what they do and with the addition of Ron and me to their team coupled with Caltius’ expertise in growing profitable niche brands, the company is well positioned for continued success.”